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Top Picks 2008
The best models for 2008
This year's Top Picks in 10 categories include four new models. For the first time since 2005, a U.S. model, the redesigned Chevrolet Silverado, made the list as our choice in pickup trucks.
And for the first time ever, a South Korean automaker is represented: The Hyundai Elantra SE and Santa Fe are our top small sedan and midsized SUV, respectively.
The fourth new entry is the Lexus LS 460L, the highest-scoring vehicle we've tested and best among luxury sedans.
Choosing the Top Picks
Our Top Picks are the most well-rounded models in their categories. Each must meet these stringent requirements:
Green car: Toyota Prius
The gas/electric Prius hybrid retains its lock on this category for the fifth straight year. Despite a wave of new hybrid models, the Prius' 44 mpg overall is still the best we've measured in any five-passenger car. The interior is roomy and versatile, and the Prius has been very reliable. Price: $24,000.
Watch video
Small sedan: Hyundai Elantra SE
Redesigned for 2007, the Elantra is a well-rounded small car. It provides good fuel economy, a comfortable ride, and an interior that's quiet, roomy, and well equipped. It also has standard electronic stability control, a proven safety feature that's absent on many other small cars. The Honda Civic EX and Mazda3 are more fun to drive, but lack ESC on more affordable versions. Price: $18,000.
Watch video
Family sedan: Honda Accord
Redesigned for 2008, the Accord is a well-rounded, roomy sedan with a comfortable ride, agile handling, and smooth, refined powertrains. Electronic stability control is standard on all models, and crash-test results are impressive. Although the Nissan Altima edged out the Accord in our Ratings, most versions of the Altima lack ESC, a requirement to be a Top Pick. The Accord is priced at about $22,000 to $31,000.
Watch video
Upscale sedan: Infiniti G35
One of the highest-rated sedans we've tested, the G35 successfully blends sportiness and luxury to offer an inviting overall package. Available in rear- or all-wheel drive, it has an exuberant powertrain, agile handling, and a well-crafted interior. Price: $33,000 to $35,000.
Watch video
Luxury sedan: Lexus LS 460L
With a score of 99 out of 100 in our road test, the LS is our highest-rated vehicle. It provides a no-compromise environment of comfort and roominess, coupled with an isolating quietness. It also delivers quick acceleration and relatively good fuel economy. This car is brimming with electronic amenities, but the controls are easy to use. Price: $77,000.
Watch video
Fun to drive: Mazda MX-5 Miata
With its balanced handling, quick and precise steering, and crisp-shifting six-speed manual transmission, the Miata is a true sports car. It virtually tied the Porsche Boxster in our test scoring, but at about $27,000, it's roughly half the price. The manual top can easily be lowered or raised with one hand from the driver's seat. If you want an affordable, fun-to-drive car with the practicality of a four-door hatchback, consider the Mazdaspeed3.
Watch video
Small SUV: Toyota RAV4
The impressive RAV4 is versatile, comfortable, and roomy enough for a small third-row seat. The spirited V6 version accelerates quickly (the same as a Mazda Miata from 0 to 60 mph), yet delivers an excellent 22 mpg overall. The four-cylinder version gets 23 mpg, the best of any nonhybrid SUV we've tested. Price: $23,000 to $30,000.
Watch video
Midsized SUV: Hyundai Santa Fe
Redesigned for 2007, the much-improved Santa Fe edged out the Honda Pilot in our tests. It provides a quiet and roomy interior, excellent fit and finish, a refined powertrain, a relatively good ride, and an optional third-row seat. Standard ESC helps provide secure handling. Price: $22,000 to $31,000.
Watch video
Minivan: Toyota Sienna
The Sienna is our pick for the second year in a row. Its spacious, quiet, and refined interior is on par with some luxury sedans. And its V6 engine is powerful and fuel efficient. It is also the only minivan available with all-wheel drive. Price: $24,000 to $37,000. The Honda Odyssey, on the other hand, is more agile and, dare we say, fun to drive for a minivan.
Watch video
Pickup truck: Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab
The redesigned Silverado is considerably improved. It achieves a nice balance between work attributes and livability, including a generous payload rating, a comfortable ride, improved interior quality and steering feel, and easy access. ESC is standard on all crew-cab models. Price: $27,000 to $39,000. The GMC Sierra is virtually identical to the Silverado. The redesigned Toyota Tundra outscored the Silverado in our tests, but first-year reliability of the 4WD, V8 version was below average.
Watch video
And for the first time ever, a South Korean automaker is represented: The Hyundai Elantra SE and Santa Fe are our top small sedan and midsized SUV, respectively.
The fourth new entry is the Lexus LS 460L, the highest-scoring vehicle we've tested and best among luxury sedans.
Choosing the Top Picks
Our Top Picks are the most well-rounded models in their categories. Each must meet these stringent requirements:
Road tests: Each Top Pick scores at or near the top of its category among more than 260 vehicles we've recently tested at our Auto Test Center.
Reliability: Each has an average or better predicted-reliability Rating, based on the problems subscribers reported on almost 1.3 million vehicles in our Annual Car Reliability Survey.
Safety: Top Picks have performed adequately in overall safety if tested by the government or the insurance industry. Starting this year, they also must provide a critical safety feature, electronic stability control (ESC), either as standard equipment or as a readily available option.
Green Car: Toyota Prius
Small Sedan: Hyundai Elantra SE
Family Sedan: Honda Accord
Upscale Sedan: Infiniti G35
Luxury Sedan: Lexus LS460L
Fun To Drive: Mazda MX-5 Miata
Small SUV: Toyota RAV 4
Mid Sized SUV: Hyundai Santa Fe
Mini Van: Toyota Sienna
Pickup Truck: Chevy Silverado 1500 Crew Cab
Small Sedan: Hyundai Elantra SE
Family Sedan: Honda Accord
Upscale Sedan: Infiniti G35
Luxury Sedan: Lexus LS460L
Fun To Drive: Mazda MX-5 Miata
Small SUV: Toyota RAV 4
Mid Sized SUV: Hyundai Santa Fe
Mini Van: Toyota Sienna
Pickup Truck: Chevy Silverado 1500 Crew Cab
Green car: Toyota Prius
The gas/electric Prius hybrid retains its lock on this category for the fifth straight year. Despite a wave of new hybrid models, the Prius' 44 mpg overall is still the best we've measured in any five-passenger car. The interior is roomy and versatile, and the Prius has been very reliable. Price: $24,000.
Watch video
Small sedan: Hyundai Elantra SE
Redesigned for 2007, the Elantra is a well-rounded small car. It provides good fuel economy, a comfortable ride, and an interior that's quiet, roomy, and well equipped. It also has standard electronic stability control, a proven safety feature that's absent on many other small cars. The Honda Civic EX and Mazda3 are more fun to drive, but lack ESC on more affordable versions. Price: $18,000.
Watch video
Family sedan: Honda Accord
Redesigned for 2008, the Accord is a well-rounded, roomy sedan with a comfortable ride, agile handling, and smooth, refined powertrains. Electronic stability control is standard on all models, and crash-test results are impressive. Although the Nissan Altima edged out the Accord in our Ratings, most versions of the Altima lack ESC, a requirement to be a Top Pick. The Accord is priced at about $22,000 to $31,000.
Watch video
Upscale sedan: Infiniti G35
One of the highest-rated sedans we've tested, the G35 successfully blends sportiness and luxury to offer an inviting overall package. Available in rear- or all-wheel drive, it has an exuberant powertrain, agile handling, and a well-crafted interior. Price: $33,000 to $35,000.
Watch video
Luxury sedan: Lexus LS 460L
With a score of 99 out of 100 in our road test, the LS is our highest-rated vehicle. It provides a no-compromise environment of comfort and roominess, coupled with an isolating quietness. It also delivers quick acceleration and relatively good fuel economy. This car is brimming with electronic amenities, but the controls are easy to use. Price: $77,000.
Watch video
Fun to drive: Mazda MX-5 Miata
With its balanced handling, quick and precise steering, and crisp-shifting six-speed manual transmission, the Miata is a true sports car. It virtually tied the Porsche Boxster in our test scoring, but at about $27,000, it's roughly half the price. The manual top can easily be lowered or raised with one hand from the driver's seat. If you want an affordable, fun-to-drive car with the practicality of a four-door hatchback, consider the Mazdaspeed3.
Watch video
Small SUV: Toyota RAV4
The impressive RAV4 is versatile, comfortable, and roomy enough for a small third-row seat. The spirited V6 version accelerates quickly (the same as a Mazda Miata from 0 to 60 mph), yet delivers an excellent 22 mpg overall. The four-cylinder version gets 23 mpg, the best of any nonhybrid SUV we've tested. Price: $23,000 to $30,000.
Watch video
Midsized SUV: Hyundai Santa Fe
Redesigned for 2007, the much-improved Santa Fe edged out the Honda Pilot in our tests. It provides a quiet and roomy interior, excellent fit and finish, a refined powertrain, a relatively good ride, and an optional third-row seat. Standard ESC helps provide secure handling. Price: $22,000 to $31,000.
Watch video
Minivan: Toyota Sienna
The Sienna is our pick for the second year in a row. Its spacious, quiet, and refined interior is on par with some luxury sedans. And its V6 engine is powerful and fuel efficient. It is also the only minivan available with all-wheel drive. Price: $24,000 to $37,000. The Honda Odyssey, on the other hand, is more agile and, dare we say, fun to drive for a minivan.
Watch video
Pickup truck: Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab
The redesigned Silverado is considerably improved. It achieves a nice balance between work attributes and livability, including a generous payload rating, a comfortable ride, improved interior quality and steering feel, and easy access. ESC is standard on all crew-cab models. Price: $27,000 to $39,000. The GMC Sierra is virtually identical to the Silverado. The redesigned Toyota Tundra outscored the Silverado in our tests, but first-year reliability of the 4WD, V8 version was below average.
Watch video
The Zero-Emission Sedan of the Future.
A Reality Today.
To learn more visit the Honda FCX Clarity 
GREENTECH: Hydrogen Car Is Here, a Bit Ahead of Its Time
The New York Times-a trusted resource for those with an eye toward the future-calls the revolutionary new FCX Clarity "Ahead of its time." Automotive editor Norman Mayersohn recently took the FCX Clarity out for a test drive along scenic Pacific Coast Highway. He was pleasantly surprised to discover how easy it was to drive the sedan of the future. Mayersohn also noted the car's impressive fuel economy, excellent performance and spacious interior with room for four. In his words, "The FCX Clarity is ready now."
The New York Times, December 9, 2007
FCX Clarity: Bring on the Hydrogen Stations
USA Today is so excited about the new FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle they can't wait to see more of them on the road. "This much is clear about Honda's FCX Clarity: There should be a lot more of them on the market, and the sooner the better," raved automotive editor James R. Healy. He called the futuristic vehicle "feisty" and praised its luxurious interior that's "roomy front and back." He was also impressed with the dashboard design-especially the simplicity of the innovative gauges. Finally Healey called the Clarity "too pleasing and promising to be patient. Blackmail, threaten, bully or bribe the hydrogen establishment for more public stations."
USA Today, November 2007
Read the article
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal: The Driver's Seat: Honda Sees a Hydrogen Future
Jeff Sabatini of The Wall Street Journal recently took the driver's seat in the FCX Clarity and found the car nothing less than groundbreaking. Because the Clarity is so easy to drive and familiar to today's drivers, he saw it as a real doorway to what could be the future of green cars. The innovative tachometer was a standout feature, and he gave Honda lots of credit for pushing forward in the effort to pursue viable alternative-fuel options.
Wall Street Journal, November 2007
Read the article
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. The FCX Clarity is a "dedicated platform hydrogen fuel cell vehicle." What does that mean?
A. Honda has led the way in developing and improving fuel cell vehicle performance. The FCX Clarity was designed from the ground up to be a fuel cell vehicle that runs on electricity powered by hydrogen, and emits only water vapor and heat into the air. In other words, the fuel cell technology was developed by Honda for the FCX Clarity, and was not retrofitted to an existing model. Instead, our engineers cleared away all preconceived notions of automobile design, challenging themselves to discover the new possibilities that can only be realized with the fuel cell vehicle.
Q. How does a fuel cell work?
A. A fuel cell generates electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen inside of a fuel cell stack.
Q. Does the FCX Clarity need to be plugged in to recharge?
A. No, the FCX Clarity generates its own electricity onboard the vehicle inside the fuel cell.
Q. Does the FCX Clarity run on gasoline?
A. No. The FCX Clarity does not use any gasoline whatsoever. It runs on clean, domestically produced hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe.
Q. How far can I drive it before I have to refuel?
A. The FCX Clarity has a driving range of approximately 270 miles*.
Q. How and where do I fill up the FCX Clarity?
A. A number of hydrogen refueling stations can be found in Southern California with others in development. Honda is also working to develop a Home Energy Station that may eventually supply energy to the home while filling up the car right inside the garage.
Q. How clean are the emissions of the FCX Clarity?
A. As clean as they get. This is a Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV). The hydrogen-powered Honda FCX Clarity will be certified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as a Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) and by the EPA as a Tier-2 Bin 1, the lowest possible federal EPA emission rating. It will also receive an EPA Inherently Low Emission Vehicle (ILEV) rating due to its entirely sealed fuel system. It will qualify for accessing High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes in California with just one person on board.
Q. What is the difference between fuel cell, hybrid and electric vehicles?
A. While electric vehicles are powered by a battery alone and must be plugged in to recharge, hybrid vehicles combine a gasoline-powered engine with an electric motor. You fill hybrid vehicles up with regular gasoline and they do not need to be plugged in. A fuel cell vehicle is an electric vehicle that does not need to be plugged in to recharge and is refueled quickly with hydrogen.
Fuel cell vehicles are powered by electricity generated onboard by combining hydrogen with oxygen by the fuel cell stack. Learn more about How Fuel Cells Work . From tank to wheel, the FCX Clarity is about twice as efficient as a hybrid-electric vehicle and three times more efficient than a conventional gasoline vehicle.
Q. What colors does the FCX Clarity come in?
A. The FCX Clarity is currently available in Star Garnet Metallic, a unique deep-red tone.
Q. How many passengers can the FCX Clarity comfortably seat?
A. The FCX Clarity is a roomy four-passenger sedan packed with amenities for a comfortable ride.
Q. How fast does the FCX Clarity go?
A. The FCX Clarity has a top speed of 100 miles per hour on a test track, so you'll have no trouble driving at the posted speed limit.
Q. Is the FCX Clarity fun to drive?
A. If you like smooth, strong acceleration, great handling and a quiet ride, then you'll find the FCX Clarity to be one of the best cars you've ever driven.
Q. Where will I take my FCX Clarity for service?
A. When you qualify to lease an FCX Clarity, you will be provided with a list of the participating Honda FCX Clarity dealerships available to meet any regular maintenance and service needs. All service and maintenance for the FCX Clarity will be covered by your lease.
Q. Where can I lease an FCX Clarity? How much does it cost?
A. A limited number of FCX Clarity vehicles will be available for lease only in the Torrance, Santa Monica and Irvine areas. The lease amount will be $600 per month for three years and it includes maintenance†. As hydrogen-supply infrastructure expands and the practical use is advanced, Honda anticipates making a greater number of fuel cell vehicles available to the public.
Q. Why is the FCX Clarity only available in Southern California?
A. FCX Clarity owners currently need to reside in the Southern California area in order to have access to service and refueling. As the hydrogen supply infrastructure expands, Honda will make a greater number of FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicles available to the public.
Q. Are there any limitations I should be aware of before I apply to lease an FCX Clarity?
A. Yes. At first, vehicle use will be geographically limited. FCX Clarity drivers will need to be able to adhere to specific and somewhat limited rules of usage. Drivers will need to be able to accommodate the vehicle's reduced range and limited refueling network.
Q. Where can I learn more about the alternative-fuel transportation initiatives of the various U.S. auto manufacturers?
A. Today, automakers are more concerned than ever about finding solutions to the problems of air quality and climate change, and Honda is leading the way. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has a Web site with information about various incentives and initiatives in this important area: http://www.driveclean.ca.gov/en/gv/home/index.asp
*Honda in-house data calculated using previously approved EPA methodology.
†Subject to limited availability, in designated, limited California market regions, to approved lessees by American Honda Finance Corp. Closed end lease for 2008 FCX Clarity, for qualified lessees meeting specific use and operation requirements. Not all applicants will qualify. No purchase option. Zero capitalized cost reduction. Taxes, license, title fees, liability insurance extra. Monthly payments of $600.00 for 36 months. Total monthly payments $21,600.00. No mileage limitation or excess mileage cost.